Welcome to the forum. Have you checked to see if there are any garden clubs in your area? If you call Cornell Cooperative Extension they should have that info. Maybe even check with CU to see if they have a volunteer contigent that helps with the grounds there. Good luck. Kareen

We're kinda of neighbors...I'm in Owego. I'm a NY native that's moved around the country but am back on home turf for good...... I think.
So, what does your garden grow? I like prennials. I have a old house...170 plus years old with well established trees and shrubs. Many of which need rejuvantion....which i've been doing a bit at a time as time allows.

Funny coincidence! I'm originally from montana too, but have been in Ithaca now for a very long time! (Came as a grad student and never managed to leave...)
My husband loves trees and smooth unbroken vistas, and is allergic to roses and a bunch of other flowers, and is kind enough to tolerate my jumbly gardens where I negotiate with the deer and woodchucks and maple roots and shade, and occasionally things grow and even sometimes bloom. montana it ain't. (I'm from Butte, how about you?)

The Adirondack Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society is based in Ithaca. Carol Eichler is the chair, cme24@cornell.edu. It is a very diverse group with wide interests. There is no meeting in July, but the August meeting is at my garden in Painted Post. It involves a members only plant sale, but you can join then. Or just come for the garden tour to see an unusual native plant garden.To find out more go to NARGS.ORG and check out the site including our chapter's home page.

Welcome to Ithaca. I am another former CU grad student who never managed to leave!

I am in Lansing near The Plantsmen nursery, which is worth a visit, especially if you are looking for native plants.

Yesterday, I made my husband look at the Canada lilies in our woods that he helped me protect (from the deer). He'd rather be looking at a golf course, but he's learning to appreciate our gardens, too.

-Caroline

Hi -- I know what you mean about being a lonely gardener. lol! Unfortunately, I'm not very close to Ithaca. :( Good luck in your new gardening ventures.

cbs_z5_ny: I would *LOVE* to have Canada lilies in my garden! an acquaintance has some (they came with her house), and it took me a long time to ID them. I've asked her several times if I could get a division. They're so cute!!!

smh, I'm in Ithaca - relatively new here. I'm a not-so-good gardener, but I love to garden (not so much in the hottest part of the summer).

I live in Belle Sherman.

It's not so much being good at it that counts it's having the guts to try and enjoying the whole process.

Thanks, Carol.

I've already planted a few wrong things, but I got a NY gardening book, and I now recognize the error in my ways (only periwinkle will thrive under a Norway Maple!!).

I knew just what to plant in Maryland in a wide open yard, and have NO CLUE what to do with this side yard which is dominated by mulch and a maple... OH, and the perennial beds in front of the house. All very good plants, none quite where I want them.

Anyone want a clump of long grass? I think I might just dig them up entirely. : )

I found a long time ago if you have plants you don't want and no one to give them to if you put them in a paper bag out in front of your house with a good size sign that says free they will be gone in no time.
My frist Japanese Irises were picked up from someone who had too many of them and did what I just described. I've sinced shared those plants with many friends over the years. I think it helps spread good gardening karma.

Thanks, Carol! I'll give that a try.

The area between my neighbor's driveway and mine is SA-A-AD! I think I'm going to offer them some plants (and some free labor and lemonade), and see if I can improve two driveways at once, but there are a few plants I need to break up that just have nowhere else to go, so I'll brown bag those.

I'll see if the neighbors down the street will mind me putting the stuff out at their house, because no one drives by our house, except for the mailman. : )

SMh78. You couldn't of picked a better place to be a gardener. You have "Plants are Us" in your back yard[Cornell U].They have outdoor gardens along with their horticultural school. Check it out. They may be able to give you garden groups ect.At the very lest check out their gardens